The shape of the flower varies from long and thin to short and squat. Fruit After fertilization, the flower stem coils tightly, starting at the end, and rests above the tuber. Seeds are amber, held in a round pod, which opens by 5-10 flaps at maturity. Cultivation Cyclamen hederifolium is usually listed as the hardiest species of cyclamen. In oceanic climates, it self-seeds abundantly and will crowd out less vigorous species such as Cyclamen coum if the two are planted together. In cold continental climates such as Calgary, Alberta, where Cyclamen purpurascens grows well, it may not survive. DavesGarden.com lists it as hardy to zone 5a (), although hardiness is dependent on presence of snow cover. This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (confirmed 2017). Subdivisions Varieties and forms There are two varieties or subspecies (hederifolium and confusum), and var. hederifolium has two named forms, differentiated by leaf and flower characteristics. Cyclamen hederifolium var. hederifolium — leaves with well defined markings C. hederifolium var. hederifolium forma hederifolium — pink or purple flowers with darker markings at the base of the petals C. hederifolium var. hederifolium forma albiflorum — white flowers, sometimes with pale pink throat — this form has also won the RHS AGM Cyclamen hederifolium var. confusum — fleshier leaves with poorly defined markings The variety Cyclamen hederifolium var. poli, with long sagittate (arrowhead-shaped) leaves, is listed by the Pacific Bulb Society. Cyclamen hederifolium var. confusum (C. confusum) [[Image:Cyclamen hederifolium ssp confusum1.jpg|thumb|Cyclamen hederifolium var 'confusum''', now known as C. confusum, Osaka Prefectural Flowers Garden, Osaka, Japan]] In chromosome count, var. confusum is tetraploid, while var. hederifolium is diploid. Recently var. confusum has been elevated to the level of species as Cyclamen confusum, although this is not reflected on GRIN. Cultivars There are a number of cultivated varieties of Cyclamen hederifolium.Cyclamen hederifolium 'Amaze me', a cultivar with dark-pink flowers, is early bloomingCyclamen hederifolium 'Ruby Glow' has particularly deep all-magenta flowers.Cyclamen hederifolium'' 'Stargazer' has upward-facing flowers. References Notes Sources Cyclamen: a guide for gardeners, horticulturists, and botanists by C. Grey-Wilson (Google Books) External links Cyclamen Society Pacific Bulb Society CalPhotos hederifolium